Major Gifts Officer

Job Summary: This position is responsible for the generation of gifts of five and six figures from individuals, corporations and foundations in support of operations and building the Father Joe's Villages endowment fund. The primary responsibility of the Major Gifts Officer is to plan and ensure the implementation of the cultivation, education, solicitation, recognition and retention of major gift prospects and to be primarily involved with major donors/donor prospects on a regular basis. The Major gifts Officer will work closely with the President and Board in this process. Responsibilities will include involvement in planning events for major donors and mailings related to major donors as well as coordinating the solicitation process. Essential Functions: • Build long-term relationships with donors and prospects, identifying, cultivating and stewarding their interests. • Solicit gifts from major donors and prospects, both independently and working collaboratively with other solicitors. • Schedule, manage and regularly attend donor meetings. • Develop strategies for the cultivation and stewardship of individual major donors and prospects. • Build, maintain and maximize institutional relationships with major-gift donors and prospects; deepening their engagement with St. Vincent de Paul/Father Joe’s Villages. • Identify opportunities for life-income, bequest, and complex-asset gifts, working with Institutional Advancement staff to maximize opportunities with donors. • Develop annual plan for donor portfolio and regional assignments. Monitor annual plan results and modify as necessary. • Develop expert familiarity with the organization and programmatic needs; maintain current knowledge of key developments as they occur. Maintain working knowledge of national programmatic priorities. • Engage Board of Directors in fundraising efforts, working with the President, and appropriate program staff. • Serve as major gift representative on assigned program practice group(s). • Performs other relative duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or other management as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Minimum Education and Experience: BA and five years demonstrated successful experience and effectiveness in major gifts fundraising with a focus on prospect identification, relationship building, and solicitation. • Experience working with volunteers, volunteer leadership, and professional program staff. • Strong initiative and self-motivation, and a keen interest in working as part of a collaborative team. • Outstanding interpersonal skills; excellent research skills; superior written and oral communication skills; and relevant computer skills. • Ability to work both entrepreneurially and independently, and to function both as a leader and a partner within a team framework. Market Education and Experience: BA and eight years of professional experience in non-profit fundraising or external relations with experience in major gifts. • Experience working with volunteers, volunteer leadership, and professional program staff. • Strong initiative and self-motivation, and a keen interest in working as part of a collaborative team. • Outstanding interpersonal skills; excellent research skills; superior written and oral communication skills; and relevant computer skills. • Ability to work both entrepreneurially and independently, and to function both as a leader and a partner within a team framework. Preferred Education and Experience: Master’s degree and five years of major gift fundraising experience in a fast paced, growth oriented organization and demonstrated track record of identifying prospects and moving them through the cultivation and solicitation stages, proven ability to solicit and close gifts of $100,000 and above. • Prior experience managing and motivating staff; History of dedicated volunteer activity and/or commitment to non-profit organizations • Strong computer skills, including MS Office applications and Outlook • Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills • Ability to work thoughtfully and collaboratively with diverse groups of people • Highly organized, detail oriented and self-motivated • Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative • Strong work ethic and sense of humor • Experience working with databases, specifically Raiser's Edge • Experience living or working internationally Other: • Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization • Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so • Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness • Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction • Work well independently as well as part of a team • Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Apply on-line: www.neighbor.org

Diane Plaster